Can you keep chickens in Borough of Closter, NJ?
No. A 2006 ordinance bans raising or keeping any poultry in Closter, with an exception only for people already licensed before it took effect.
The rules at a glance
| Chickens allowed | No |
| Hens | Not permitted |
| Roosters | Prohibited |
| Permit | Not available (chickens are banned) |
| Coop setback | Not applicable, since poultry may not be kept |
| Lot size | Not specified |
| Ducks | Not allowed (same rule as chickens) |
Good to know
- The ban names ducks, chickens, swans, geese, turkey, guinea fowl, pheasants, pea fowl and pigeons, for commercial and noncommercial purposes alike.
- Only people licensed on or before the 2006 effective date were grandfathered.
- The older poultry section is still printed in the code, with a $20 annual Health Officer permit, a 20-bird cap and a 25-foot distance rule.
- Those older rules now apply only to the grandfathered keepers, not to new coops.
What about ducks?
No. Closter's 2006 poultry ban names ducks first, with an exception only for keepers licensed before it took effect.
§ 250-28.1: "No person, firm or corporation shall raise, keep or harbor any poultry, i.e., ducks, chickens, swans, geese, turkey, guinea fowl, pheasants, pea fowl and pigeons, for commercial or noncommercial purposes within the Borough." Duck coops we build.
We build across Bergen County
Borough of Closter doesn't allow backyard chickens today, but ordinances change, and we build custom sheds and animal structures on-site throughout Bergen County and all of New Jersey. If a coop is in your plans, we can help you sort out where it's allowed nearby.
Chicken rules in nearby Bergen County towns
Compare them side by side in the Bergen County table.
Ready to keep your flock safe?
Tell us about your animals and your land. We'll design a coop built to last, on-site, just for you.